On Sunday, May 2nd, the WWE Network presents Extreme Rules 2016! The event features several matches with stipulations, along with several feuds built upon from Payback, the prior pay-per-view event. Below is each match set for the event while Brock Allen and myself give our opinions on what we’ll see and who will win.
No Disqualification
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
Brock Allen: I’m still not sold on Baron Corbin. I can understand those in WWE who think giving the kid a shot on the main roster, and thereby freeing u a spot in NXT, was a good move as opposed to simply releasing him, but the kid is just vanilla. If there’s one wrestler who could have benefited from territories it’d be Baron Corbin. Ziggler is better, more developed, and far more ready for a serious push than Corbin.
As for the match, Corbin wins. Thank goodness this is on the pre-show, is all I can say. I simply don’t care about this match.
Prediction: Baron Corbin
Steve Coulson: So, Baron Corbin has kind of been under the radar since being called up, eh? I didn’t really expect his call up to be so lackluster, although he’s in a better spot than Apollo Crews, but I expected a bigger push for him out of the gate. And I haven’t given up on that thought process.
With that being said, I believe Corbin wins cleanly after a fun little match. Ziggler winning would be pretty surprising, but they have surprised me before. Instead though, Corbin wins clean with the End of Days before eventually going on to challenge for the United States Championship.
Prediction: Baron Corbin
United States Championship
Kalisto vs. Rusev (with Lana)
Brock Allen: Every time you think Kalisto is done for, he pulls it out. I’m warming to the Kalisto reign in a way I didn’t think I would. His matches and the angles are becoming, for me, must-see. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love seeing a really good big guy against a really good little guy. Rusev is a fantastic big guy and Kalisto is one of the best little guys WWE has produced in several years. I can’t wait for this one.
In the end I see Kalisto retaining the title, but something tells me Rusev could pull it out. I’m going with Kalisto, but by a very slim margin.
Prediction: Kalisto (retains)
Steve Coulson: Every event feels like the one where Kalisto finally loses the United States Championship. I’ve been predicting it each time, and somehow he pulls through. And I’m not complaining, I like him being given a chance even if his booking is relatively generic.
And I love Rusev, so this is a win/win for me. As much as I’d love another big US title reign for Rusev, I see Kalisto pulling out the upset. Whether this means the feud continues or not is up in the air, but I still see Kalisto holding onto the title until he faces Baron Corbin.
Prediction: Kalisto (retains)
Texas Tornado
The Club (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) vs. The Usos (Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso)
Brock Allen: I really enjoy this angle. Unlike the Usos/Wyatts battles of a few years back, these teams play off of each other like they’ve been wrestling each other for years. On top of that we get one of my all-time favorite gimmicks in the “Texas Tornado”. It’s a win-win for me all around.
Since we haven’t had a real opportunity to see what The Club can do I see this match as their true introduction to the WWE Universe. While the Uso’s will be strong, I see The Club winning this one cleanly. This one should be a war, though.
Prediction: The Club
Steve Coulson: We’ve seen these teams go at it a lot lately and nothing has been too great, but I think this will stand out above the rest. A tornado tag means that it will likely be a wild brawl, and that’s exactly what I want to see with these two teams.
Since I believe we aren’t seeing a title change later on in the show, I’ll say The Club win here. This would also give them more credibility when they inevitably turn on AJ. So they’ll win in a frenzy while the Usos will look quite strong still.
Prediction: The Club
WWE Tag Team Championship
The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston, with Xavier Woods) vs. The Vaudevillains (Simon Gotch and Aiden English)
Brock Allen: The Vaudevillains are not as dynamic on the main roster as they were in NXT, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Plus, seeing as they left the New Day laying in the middle of the ring on the go-home RAW I would be shocked beyond belief if they won the gold.
Though the match will be entertaining and above average, I see New Day winning by New Day means. Like The Club, I see this as The Vaudevillains true introduction to the WWE Universe the way the tournament finals against Enzo & Cass was to be. Either way, it should be a great match.
Prediction: New Day (retains)
Steve Coulson: I never would have expected the Vaudevillains would be called up and become number one contenders so quickly. So when I say I can’t imagine them getting the WWE Tag Team Titles, I mean it, but at this point I wouldn’t be completely shocked if they went ahead with it.
I think the match itself will be good. New Day have had some really good-great TV matches and I think this one if given enough time can be one of the good ones. The Vaudevillains are both quite good, and if the crowd cares, this should deliver. New Day wins clean, but with the recent booking of the Vaudevillains, anything can happen.
Prediction: New Day (retains)
Asylum
Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
Brock Allen: This angle has, for me at least, revitalized Y2J’s career. Ambrose is Jericho’s best nemesis since CM Punk, if you ask me (no offense Styles). ‘Nuff said. As for the match, I’m going to fall back on old-school wrestling psychology to pick the winner.
Since Payback, Ambrose has had Jericho’s number nearly every week. Ambrose has beaten Jericho up, destroyed the “Lite Brite” Jacket, and even maneuvered Jericho into Ambrose’s very own gimmick match creation, the “Asylum Match”. So now that the big match is upon us, I see no way that Dean Ambrose can win this match. Jericho will prevail, cheating of course (will it really be cheating when the weapons are hung from the cage?), setting up the final match between these two at the next PPV.
Prediction: Chris Jericho
Steve Coulson: This feud has a lot of people divided. Some people are just plain tired of Chris Jericho. I am not one of those people. Instead, I like that he’s around and putting over Ambrose, especially after that debacle with Brock Lesnar. He needs some steady wins right now.
As for the Asylum match, it is definitely getting a mixed reaction. The presentation was over the top and fairly hokey, but I had fun with it and I think we’ll see something really entertaining here. A clockwork orange house of fun match on WWE TV will be wacky, and I love wackiness every now and then. I see Ambrose winning this clean, which is the right move.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose
Intercontinental Championship
Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. The Miz (with Maryse)
Brock Allen: I think the angle is fun, I just can’t stand The Miz right now. He’s the only one in this atch that truly doesn’t fit and doesn’t belong. Either way, WWE has spent too much time and money on himself and his wife that I can’t see Miz losing the title anytime soon, especially when you consider that Kalisto is the U.S. title holder. A hell as the IC champions only makes since to me to balance out the cards.
Prediction: The Miz (retains)
Steve Coulson: I am really enjoying this angle, and I suspect both will continue going forward once again separated. Owens and Sami will continue to feud leading into the Money in the Bank event, where I see KO winning the briefcase. Meanwhile, I see Cesaro winning the Intercontinental Championship here and defending against The Miz one last time next month. I could also see a new feud coming altogether for him, though. Maybe a feud with Del Rio? The match itself will be crazy and exciting and a lot of fun, especially if it is given enough time to really shine. It could steal the show.
Prediction: Cesaro (New Champion)
WWE Women’s Championship
Submission
Charlotte vs. Natalya
Brock Allen: Well, I know Steve’s comments are below mine, but the man nails it. I feel exactly the same.
Since Nattie went over so strong at the end of the go-home RAW, I’m picking Charlotte in a match that should be better than Payback. And it may turn out to be Nattie’s last hurrah in WWE. I have a question: Why does Nattie smile when she’s putting on the Sharpshooter? Shouldn’t she look like she’s actually trying to hurt her opponent? I think it makes Charlotte look weak, if you ask me, and not in the good way.
Prediction: Charlotte (retains)
Steve Coulson: I don’t like this feud very much, I don’t think anything they’ve done lately has been as good as their Roadblock match, and I am just dying for someone else to challenge Charlotte at this point, even if its more Becky Lynch matches.
But with that being said, I suspect with Flair not around this will be less muddled and instead we’ll have a really solid match. A story like this points to the babyface winning, but I can’t see Natalya getting the nod, so Charlotte retains somewhat clean, by submission.
Prediction: Charlotte (retains)
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Extreme Rules
Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles
Brock Allen: This is my favorite WWE World title angles in years. Everything about this angle is what I love about this business and the WWE. It proves that the WWE can do “Attitude Era” angles in a “TV-PG” climate and have them work just as well. I can not wait for this one.
This should be the match of the night in terms of drama and suspense. I see them leaning heavily on false finishes here, even more than they already do. Unlike Steve, I don’t see The Club turning on AJ so much as AJ making the final turn to The Club. AJ Styles could potentially be on of WWE’s strongest heels. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t love booing a jerk with a southern accent? Anyways, Reigns wins.
Prediction: Roman Reigns (retains)
Steve Coulson: This feud has been quite good, and although they arguably have gone a bit heavy with the Club/Bloodline tags and six man tags, I really like the shades of grey we’ve had with this angle and it reminds me and several others of 1997 WWF, which in my opinion was far better than the two years that followed it.
I expect this to be a really good match, maybe great, but ultimately Roman retains. I don’t see a world where AJ Styles dethrones Roman, although I’d love to be wrong. Instead, I see AJ losing, possibly clean, before his teammates turn on him. But I could also see that being delayed until RAW.
Prediction: Roman Reigns (retains)
Closing Thoughts
Brock Allen: I anticipate this event to be the best Extreme Rules we’ve seen in quite some time. Every match has the potential to steal the show, gimmicks aside. I don’t expect anything major to happen, but I think the event will be a whole lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.
If you’re interested you can check out my Kayfabe Commentaries DVD reviews or my weekly Throwback Thursday articles at WrestlingDVDNetwork.com.
Once again I’d like to thank Steve Coulson and Jon Potter for the opportunity to participate in the preview for yet another WWE PPV. Thanks a lot, fellas.
Steve Coulson: This event could be really strong. I do find it odd that so many matches have no gimmicks attached to them considering the theme of the event, but I predict the show will be quite good nonetheless. But will the show mean much in a month from now? I’m not so sure.
I only predict one title change, and I suspect Miz and Cesaro will continue to work with each other after. So really, I see things staying the same. Hopefully, though, in the future it leads to a brand extension and then things will truly be shook up. Regardless, this show has a lot of positive and I’m interested in how it turns out.
There you go! Who do you predict will win the big ones? Be sure to let us know in the comments section. Don’t forget we will have quick results available at the conclusion of the show and a more detailed review of the event later on Monday!